The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will kick off regular season play against the Green Bay Packers at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. Former Gator Percy Harvin, who returned the second half opening kick for 87 yards to help secure Seattle’s first Super Bowl win, will be looking to compete this year after only playing one regular season game in 2013.
Harvin was on the disabled list for most of 2013 after undergoing hip surgery.
The wide receiver made strides in camp and exceeded coaches expectations so far. He’s been able to practice on back-to-back days instead of every other day—as originally planned.
"I think the biggest thing with me was my hip it was controlling a lot of the hamstrings, knee problems and things like that," Harvin told media after practice on Aug. 20. "My legs are just feeling how they are supposed to feel, it’s very fluent, very smooth, it’s all good."
Rookies set for season opener: NFL play will pick back up with 13 scheduled games on Sunday.
Dominique Easley, the 29th overall pick from the 2014 Draft, reportedly secured a 4-year, $7.3 million contract and a $3.63 million signing bonus with the New England Patriots.
The defensive tackle is still nursing a torn ACL he suffered during a non-contact drill on Sept. 24. According to the Boston Herald, the Patriots hope Easley will make his NFL debut during New England’s season opener Sunday in Miami.
Fourth-round draft pick Jaylen Watkins and undrafted tight end Trey Burton join fellow Gator Riley Cooper on Philadelphia’s 53-man roster. In his four years at UF, Burton played 50 games, recorded 720 rushing yards, 976 receiving yards and made 20 touchdowns at wide receiver, tight end, fullback and quarterback.
Ronald Powell, a fifth-round draft pick for the New Orleans, managed to make the Saints 53-man, post-training camp roster. Powell finished 2013 with 26 tackles and led the Gators with four sacks last season.
The New England Patriots released Florida’s fourth and final drafted player from the class of 2014. Jon Halapio was cut on Saturday as part of the team’s final roster moves.
McDonald arrested: San Francisco 49ers’ Ray McDonald landed himself in a Santa Clara County Jail early Sunday morning. McDonald was arrested on felony domestic violence chargers. McDonald posted bail and was released later Sunday. According to the Sacramento Bee, police arrived at McDonald’s house around 2 a.m. During a birthday celebration he was hosting, he appeared to have an altercation with his fiancée.
This is the first domestic violence issue to take place within the NFL since commissioner Roger Goodell announced a mandatory six-game suspension for first domestic violence offence.
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Seattle Seahawks' Percy Harvin runs against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an preseason NFL football game on Aug. 22 in Seattle.
